| Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... |
Our chaotic spring season headliner with the glorious Fag Packet may be over, but there’s plenty more to come across our building. From Devoted & Disgruntled kicking off tomorrow, to a joyous spring Tea Dance, and a History Tour part of the Hackney History Festival, there’s lots to get stuck into. Plus with have lots of community and artistic groups taking advantage of all our spaces, it’s a busy month ahead. Read on for #FriendsAtSTH – your monthly roundup of interesting events, and exciting people visiting our building.
Live Events
Improbable
Devoted and Disgruntled
2 – 4 May
Improbable‘s unconventional convention is back, focusing on making meaningful change in the performing arts industry. Dive into the nationwide conversation where everyone’s voice can be heard and no topic is censored. If the question “What are we going to do about Theatre and the Performing Arts?” inspires you, invigorates you, or even infuriates you, then Devoted and Disgruntled is for you. Read our interview with Improbable to find out more about what you can expect on the day. More info here.
Town Hall Tea Dance
19 May
Dust your dancing shoes off and head over to our iconic Town Hall Tea Dance for an afternoon of ballroom magic as Mr Wonderful and Raymond Root take you for a joyful spin. Haven’t been to one this year? Don’t worry! Get into the swing of things by booking our Beginners’ Dance Class before the main event for just £2. Book now.
Hackney History Festival
History Tour
27 May
We’re once again taking part in the Hackney History Festival, as we give our popular behind-the-scenes History Tour of our building. Explore spaces that are usually closed to the public as you learn how the building has developed over the years from hosting the inquest into the murder of Jack the Ripper’s last victim Mary Kelly, becoming one of the East End’s premiere boxing venues, hosting Whirl-Y-Gigs, to the leading arts and cultural venue it is today. See your favourite film and TV locations in the flesh (yes Baby Reindeer and A Quiet Place: Day One was filmed here!) Oh, and you never know… you might even bump into a ghost! Tickets just £2 Book here.
For Artists
Artist Workspace
Ongoing
Located in the heart of Shoreditch, our Artist Workspace offers bookable desk space for a day or week at a time. If you’re looking for a space to do admin work without having to pay huge fees, book our workspace slots to benefit from a safe communal working environment in our hub of creativity – all for FREE! Book your desk space now.
Theatre Re: Monthly Training Classes
10 May
Rooted in Theatre Re’s artistic practice and creative process, join their monthly workshops which focuses on Corporeal Mime technique, rigorous training, improvisation and composition inspired by their current projects. Open to all – from seasoned performers refining their physical presence to newcomers seeking a stronger creative foundation. Come along and book now to network with artists from all walks of life.
Koro Productions
Koro Lab
7 – 8 May
Koro Lab supports migrant and Global Majority creatives to develop bold immersive, interactive and site-specific work through artist development and R&D commissions. In this inaugural year of the initiative Koro will be using our space to host artist development workshops before having R&D sessions in the summer, eventually culminating in a public sharing of the artists’ work in September. To find out more about the programme, head to Koro’s website here.
Supporting the Artistic Community
Fag Packet
DYKE Systems Ltd rehearsals
Multiple Dates in May
After a successful launch of their UK tour in our Council Chamber (which included sold out shows and nightly standing ovations), Fag Packet are back to rehearse for the rest of their UK tour at ten other venues including Norwich Arts Centre, Bristol Old Vic and Lowry. Missed the show? Find out where else you can catch them here. Want to hear about our audiences reactions to the show? Check out our Vox Pops on Instagram here.
Frankie Thompson
The Shrooms Play rehearsals
Multiple Dates in May
Summer in The Ditch artist Frankie Thompson, alongside Yael Eshiva (Soho Theatre and Kings Head Theatre) and Emma Jude Harris (Fringe First winner) rehearse their three-hander comedy The Shrooms Play. The show looks at themes of millennial identity, religion, and American life before the 2016 elections.
Barry Fitzgerald
Mourning is a Muscle rehearsal
Multiple Dates in May
Barry Fitzgerald is rehearsing Mourning is a Muscle, a denim-drenched journey through grief, queerness, and lineage. Inspired by letters to Barry’s father, written four years after his death, it fuses ritual, music, design, and movement. From Annie Lennox to Neil Diamond, Carlow fields to London lockdown, line dancing to lip-sync – the piece lands in tender and electric moments. A call to witness mourning in all its forms: spectacular, ordinary, and everything in between.
Marawa’s Majorettes rehearsal
19 May
Marawa’s Majorettes make everyone fall in love with hooping! They’ve become a leading fitness team and international performance troupe, teaching the world to hoop as they go.
Other Artistic Companies in the Building this Month:
Camden People’s Theatre rehearses a new show
Image Credit: Mourning is a Muscle
Local Community Support
Hackney Tour Guides Training Course
6, 13, 20, 27 May
The accredited Hackney Guides course is back in the building to train the future of Hackney tour guides in the rich history of our borough. Diving into the many wonderful stories about people and architecture around Hackney which people may or may not know about. We’re excited to provide space for these training sessions as a part of our Local Lounge initiative.
PANDAS Foundation Carers and Parents support group
5, 26 May
For over a decade, PANDAS Foundation has been helping parents, carers or networks affected by Perinatal Mental Illness. They will be hosting a support group for parents and carers where they can bring their little ones along for arts and crafts and chats in a supportive and understanding community.
Hackney Council
Polling Station Elections – Mayor of Hackney & Local
7 May
We’re becoming a polling station! As a Grade II listed building with a long history of civic use and having hosted many of Hackney’s important political discussions and decisions – it feels especially fitting to once again play a role in the democratic process. On 7 May, voters will visit us to cast their ballots for the next Mayor of Hackney. We encourage everyone to take part in their local area and make their voice heard.
Other Local Lounge Users this Month:
East End Trades Guild – with a leadership training workshop – 5 May
Kava Therapy‘s Wellness Sessions – 7, 14, 20, 28 May
You Make It – workshop for empowering women and progressive employers – 8 May
